Scientific discovery leads to new business. There were 671 university research spin-off companies formed in 2011.

The Future of the Scientific Enterprise

No one knows what breakthroughs will go undiscovered if NSF funding is not maintained.

NSF is the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities.

NSF drives innovation by investing in high-risk, cutting edge science and engineering at the frontiers of knowledge.

Private industry alone can’t support these programs—even as public funding for research and development has stagnated over the past 10 years, industry investment has dropped.

Scientists are able to build on foundations laid by others because the results of publicly funded research are open to the public.

Through graduate fellowships, research funding, and the Math and Science Partnership program, NSF trains the next generation of America’s scientists. Since 1952, NSF has awarded more than 50,000 Graduate Research Fellowships.

The scientific enterprise depends on consistent funding to support America’s scientific workforce. If the scientific pipeline is disrupted, there will be enduring long-term consequences as our talented researchers move on to other fields.

NSF By The Numbers

$7.76 billion
NSF FY 2018 budget

92 percent
amount of the NSF budget invested through local research institutions